The state government on Tuesday removed principal secretary (home) RM Srivastava following a controversial letter from his department seeking a meeting with police officers to discuss Ram temple construction in Ayodhya on the pattern of Somnath Temple.
Revenue board member Anil
Kumar Gupta will take charge in his place. Srivastav now goes as principal secretary institutional finance.

It may be mentioned that secretary home Sarvesh Chandra Mishra had shot off a letter to senior officers of the police department on October 9 about a meeting on October 14 to discuss construction of Ram temple on the pattern of reconstruction of Somnath Temple through a central legislation. The government hurriedly transferred Mishra and put him on the waiting list after suspending section officer PK Pandey.

The issue had snowballed into a major controversy as the opposition parties had assailed the state government for vitiating the communal atmosphere by releasing such a letter.

Senior Uttar Pradesh minister Mohd Azam Khan sought action against the officers of the home department. It is learnt that chief minister Akhilesh Yadav was not happy with the performance of Srivastava.

New principal secretary (home) Anil Kumar Gupta said efforts would be made to improve the law and order in the state.

Ever since eruption of communal violence in Muzaffarnagar last month Srivastava was in the eye of a storm. He had been accused of not properly handling the situation.

Meanwhile, the government has sanctioned Rs. 6.84 crore for Muzaffarnagar reconstruction and rehabilitation post riots.